Many Mighty Miracles

Hermana Brightman with her trainer Hermana Pollock

First, it has been quite the week and I apologize for just getting to posting Hermana Brightman’s email! It is amazing to hear from our wonderful Hermana Brightman again!! It was two weeks between emails as she left the CCM and entered the field. I was able to get a note card from her before P-day though J

My heart has been full of the love our Savior, for many reasons this week. First, I have found that I have to lean on him more than I ever have in my life in order to be a strong missionary momma (and keep my tears in my secret places). Oh they come! But through leaning on The Lord I am able to focus those tears into support for our sweet Hermana Brightman and support for our local missionaries. (side note) As she has entered the field I have realized just how important it is for the missionary mommas at home to know that their sweet Elders or Sisters are being taken care of by missionary mommas in the field! Second, as sisters in our church we have to privilege to be the Savior’s hands here on the earth. We get to visit with other sisters on a regular basis to help in any way possible with physical needs and strengthen each other spiritually. This year we have been sharing the message of the attributes of Jesus Christ. Oh what a joy this has been! I love to study on those qualities to help us become more like him. Finally, with Easter quickly approaching, I have a renewed sense of gratitude for the atonement and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know He lives and it fills my soul with joy and comfort!

If you have not had the opportunity to watch the video, Because He lives, please click and watch.

#Becausehelives

Many Mighty Miracles

Oh man, where do I start? This week has been a roller coaster for sure, but I've definitely seen miracles and the hand of God every single day.

Monday we flew to Dallas. It was a pretty short flight and Hna Schreiner was the only one who sat by a non-missionary on the plane. She ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and he was SUPER into it! It was beautiful. We all were kind of tuned into the conversation from our different places on the plane :P We got to the airport and as we left security, President and Sister Taylor were there waiting for us along with their assistants. Seriously, coming out and seeing them was like being greeted by family. It was the best. We had a little meeting at the Meandering Way chapel and then went to their house for dinner and FHE. Something that President Taylor really emphasizes is PRO, Pray Read Obey. Every day. Its so simple but this really does bring miracles.

Tuesday I met my FABULOUS trainer, Hermana Pollock. Seriously she's great. I love having her as my trainer and friend. It has been a great ride so far and I am excited for it to keep on going.

Our mission president is also super big on having a vision. We have a vision as a mission and then we've each made individual vision statements as well. And holy cow. Having that set in my mind has already helped me so much in this journey. Our mission vision is "Becoming One with the Messiah, the Members, and the Missionaries-- Many Mighty Miracles". I know that this is true. I've seen the hand of God in every day.

                                                                           

We have had exciting moments, like cheer in the car all the home exciting. We have also had moments where we sobbed on the living room floor with our hearts broken. And we've had moments where we just laughed our heads off. But God's hand is in it all. There's been miracles every single day.

Like seeing one of our investigators in the chapel when we walked back in after taking a call. That was one of THE BEST feelings.

I cannot wait to see what the rest of this brings.

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Brightman

 

Most of the district from CCM in the van from the Dallas airport

Adios CCM, Hola Dallas!!

Last photo op at the CCM

The 8 new missionaries in the Dallas, Texas mission. At the Dallas temple

Our Amazing Hermana Brightman with President and Sister Taylor

Our wonderful Hermana Brightman arrived safely in Dallas!! She is so EXCITED to be in the field. Sister Walker, serving in our ward, said that she felt like the spirit with which a missionary leaves the MTC is the spirit with which they will serve. WHOOT!! Look out Dallas J We look forward to that first email from the field!

Here is the email from President and Sister Taylor

We are grateful to have your daughter, Sister Lauren Brightman, serving with us in the Texas Dallas Mission.  She arrived safely and I have enjoyed interviewing her.  She has been assigned to serve in Plano, Texas, and her companion is Sister Alice Pollock. 

Her new address is 1515 Rio Grande Drive  #412,  Plano, Texas 75075.  

We have given her a strong trainer to help her get off to a good start.  She seems happy and anxious to do the work of the Lord. 

This is the hardest and BEST thing I've ever done

Hermanas Cloward and Brightman. Look out Dallas! Here they come!

Serving The Lord

I honestly cannot believe that when I post this Hermana Brightman will only have 3 full days left in the CCM!! The Lord has definitely blessed me in that the time has passed quickly for me so far. I am excited for her to begin this new part of her journey! I’m also very excited to have sent Hermana Brightman’s “greenie”  box!! For those who do not know, greenie is the term used to refer to a new missionary in the field. I also included stuff for Hermana “trainer” all in pink because she is the “brains of the outfit” (reference to the old cartoon pinkie and the brain, not that the girls ever watched it, but hey it made the pink work) J

I have been trying to make sure that my life is focused where it needs to be. To “sort out my priorities” as it were. I read an amazing article on LDS.net on the life of Eliza R. Snow. She used her time wisely, according to the article, “she carried a gold pocket watch to ensure punctuality and wise use of her time.” Our life is a “world filled with distractions, or more accurately dis-actions. The article points out that we all need a reminder to refocus and re-prioritize our lives. As we do so, stress will reduce and capacities will increase.”

I am so thankful for the opportunity, whether by choice or grand design, to periodically re-prioritize my life! I watch all that

Hermana Brightman has accomplished in such a short time and realize that what Eliza said is correct! “[Y]ou will be astonished at what you can accomplish”

The last letter from the CCM!!

Ready to serve The Lord in Dallas!

This is the hardest and best thing I've ever done.

Definitely a refiner´s fire. I am being molded and shaped into a better person each and every day and every trial only brings me that much closer to the goal.

I only have 5 days left in the CCM and all my emails from my friends in the field make me SO excited to get out there and serve! I can´t WAIT to have experiences like the one´s they´ve shared. And I don´t have to wait much longer!!! I got my travel info today!  

I leave Mexico Monday morning and then I'm off to the great state of Texas for only 16 and a half more months! I wish it could last forever. But one thing our teachers always tell us. "La placa no hace al misionero." Which, in English, means "The tag doesn't make the missionary". That is so true. The time I've been here we've had the privilege of listening to several recorded devotionals from Elder Holland. One talked about how this is the work for an eternity. We can't go back to who or where we were before. He spoke of the time Christ said unto Peter "If ye love me, feed my sheep" and something he said really stood out to me. "You can't go back. You can never go back to your nets and your fish because your call was to LEAVE THOSE BEHIND and follow the Savior. YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FEED HIS SHEEP FOREVER."

Another thing he said in the devotional we watched this Sunday was "This is Real Life. With a capital R and a capital L. What more can there be than this?"

Which really got me thinking. What does "Real Life" mean? I think it means a life or a manner of living that makes our spirits sing and rejoice no matter what the trial or struggle (Like in Mosiah 15:30) becasue we understand that there is more and better waiting for us. I think it means a manner of living that reminds us that the Savior is by our side and makes the veil "thin". In other words, bringing ourselves closer to God every day and serving others every chance we get. So really, he´s right. What more IS there to Real Life than this?

"Everything you have the opportunity to learn will one day be required of God that you act on- whether you actually learned it or not"

I gave a talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday about personal conversion. I think personal conversion goes hand in hand with living Real Life. It means loving and trusting God and Christ enough to give anything and everything to do all things they ask of us. Like Moses. Like Abraham. Like Joseph Smith. Like Abinadi. Like Ester. Like so many of my heroes from all the works of Holy Scripture.

Why did I choose to do this? Why did I choose to leave everything familiar and comfortable for a year and a half-- put my life on hold for 18 months-- and venture out into the unknown with such limited contact and only the Lord to guide me? Because that´s enough. Because I know why I am here and where I came from and where I am going. I know essential plain and precious truths that have been lost to the world through the rejection of the Apostles and the teachings of Christ. I know who I am and I know WHOSE we all are. I have been given a miracle. And I can´t bear the thought of others not having access to that.

Over 88,000 missionaries and each one was called individually. Missionaries are not assigned to missions. Missions are assigned to missionaries. We may not remember the face of God but He remembers ours. And a living apostle of the Lord looked at the picture, individually, of each of these over 88,000 young men and women ready to embark in the service of their God and KNEW where we were to labor. We knew the people we are going to teach before this world was organized. We knew them and we loved them and we promised to teach them. GOD remembers that promise. We may not remember making it but that does not change the fact that it was made. And we will be held eternally accountable for how well we follow through on this.

"A miracle is the natural result of the proper application of the commandments of God".

Don´t forget that some windows of opportunity will never open again once they have been shut.

Con Amor,

Hermana Brightman

With eyes firmly fixed upon eternal exaltation

The fastest week EVER

The Hermanas got their door post-it attacked :-)

I know God lives! I know He knows and loves each of us personally! I know that we are able to receive personal revelation regarding our own life, and those in our charge. Though Hermana Brightman is not exactly “in my charge” right now, still as the missionary momma I am privileged to receive revelation on how to best help and support her. One morning (I think it was Monday, but I did not write it down so I can’t be sure it wasn’t Thursday or Friday :-) I agree, this week flew by) I was going about my morning routine when an overwhelming sense of urgency came over me. I hit my knees, right then and there, and began to pray with all the fervor of my soul for my sweet Lauren. I prayed as hard as a missionary momma can pray (and let me tell you, that is a pretty strong prayer)!! Fast forward to Tuesday…P-day…email day!! Her email starts with

“Hey guys! emails will be shorter (length not time) today cuz I dropped a weight on my hand and it hurts to use both to type. (also why letters today will look a little funny cuz they were written with my left hand) but no need to worry! all is and will be well!”

So naturally I didn’t panic….yeah, right! Actually, I didn’t do too bad (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it) J The first thing I thought was how thankful I was that the Lord let me know that I needed to pray for my sweet missionary to have extra strength! I am so thankful for my connection with my Savior and with my family. Then she continued to reassure me that she really was okay, so I really did end up not panicked.

Here is her short, but super sweet (like her) all English email.

Seriously this week has been so fast.

I have found a renewed sense of focus and enthusiasm. My whole district has. We leave in 2 weeks!!!

"The next time you look at the world and just think darkness and doomsday, open your eyes and LOOK AROUND at all the good." that was the theme of church this week. That and it´s not easy because it´s not supposed to be easy. This life wasn´t easy for our Savior, and HE was perfect.

He reaches out and staves our lives and gives us hope EVERY DAY.

Read John 15:13 and cross reference it to 1st Nephi 21:16, john 16:33 and Alma 7:11-12

Also watch “The Testaments: of one fold and one Sheppard"

It is soooo powerful!!! Also, the village it portrays is laid out almost exactly like Teotihuacan, which was super cool to be able to have that to reference it to!

Last but not least, there is a BIG difference between the words ordenó y ordeñó. One is to ordain, the other is to milk. We had a nice laugh about that one in class ;)

Give your heart to God and move on, leaving the past in the past and letting the future take care of itself!

Con Amor,

Hna Brightman

Not many pictures this week, as she said, it flew by.

Goofing around on the playground behind their house.

She got some really awesome woven scripture covers

Hardworking Hermanas...and fun-loving girls!